The vast majority of Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if consumed. Some limitations may apply for young children and pregnant women. Here’s a Fish Consumption Fact Sheet from the Iowa DNR and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health for more information. Here is a list of current fish consumption advisories for Iowa lakes and rivers.

Mississippi River - Pool 17

Description

Pool 17 of the Upper Mississippi River extends 20.1 miles from Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston, IL to Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine. Pool 17 contains 8,137 acres of aquatic habitat. Pool 17 has islands, side channels, and backwaters throughout most of its length. Beginning in Pool 17 and extending downriver, extensive agricultural levies border the river cutting off much of its floodplain. This training of the river has caused loss and degradation of much of the rivers side channel and backwater habitats. The Iowa DNR’s Lake Odessa Wildlife Management Area is located in lower Pool 17. The Big Timber and Louisa Divisions of the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge are also located in Pool 17.

In 2012, the Fairport Fish Management Team and volunteers from the local fishing club placed numerous cedar trees into the Big Timber Area (Coolegar Slough) for fish habitat. This map shows those locations and provides GPS points for this new fish habitat.

Our MissionTo conserve and enhance ournatural resources in cooperationwith individuals and organizationsto improve the quality of life in Iowa and ensure a legacy forfuture generations.